092222 - Las Vegas Edition

Asian Americans not a monolith, advocates urge for disaggregated health data

CHINESE Americans have a greater rate of cancer than the overall population. Vietnamese Americans have the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B. South Asian Americans suffer staggeringly high rates of heart disease and diabetes.Butsuch information is largely anecdotal, without data to support empirical findings. Asian Americans are regarded as one large monolith by the U.S. health care system, say health care experts. And currently, there is no attempt to disaggregate data for AAPI subethnicities, leaving out information that is critical to resolving health care disparities.

Moreover, less than 1% of National Institutes of Health funding is granted to researchers working on health care issues specific to the AAPI community, leading to further gaps in information. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population in the U.S., projected to reach nearly 34 million by 2050.

“We are treated as one giant group, but we are not a monolith,” said Dr. Bryant

Fil-Am ex-border o cer sentenced for fake green-cardmarriage-for-scheme

SEATTLE – A U.S. District Court sentenced a Filipino American former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer Friday, Sept. 16, for agreeing to a sham marriage so that her childhood acquaintance could immigrate to the United States and obtain U.S. citizenship.

Katherine De Leon Evaristo, 39, of Burien, Washington, was sentenced to two years of probation for immigration fraud. She was to be paid $20,000 for the fake marriage. Evaristo later obtained a job at the Office of Field Operations for CBP and used her position to make an inquiry into her husband’s immigration status.

At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones imposed the sentence of two years of probation, noting Evaristo had lost her career in public service and was unlikely to Accordingreoffend.tocourt records, in late 2012, Evaristo was approached by a cousin about a sham marriage after she attended her brother’s

Marcos, Biden meet in New York

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

NEW YORK – President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday, September 22 met with United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) here.

Marcos, who is in the U.S. for a six-day official visit, held a bilateral meeting with Biden to discuss the relations between Manila and Washington.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles

earlier said the two leaders' meeting aims to further boost the Philippines-U.S. relationship "that has been in 76 years of cooperation."

"Inaasahang matatalakay ng dalawang world leader ang pagpapatatag ng relasyong PilipinasU.S. na nasa 76 na taon na ng kooperasyon, pagpapayabong ng kalakalan, pamumuhunan sa ating bansa, at iba pang isyu na kinakaharap ng mundo (The two world leaders are expected to discuss the strengthening of the PhilippinesU.S. relationship that has been in 76 years of

cooperation, the development of trade, investment in our country, and other issues faced by the world)," she said.

Biden is scheduled to host a reception for all heads of state attending the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

In July, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said Biden invited Marcos to come to the US through a handwritten letter brought by U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff who u PAGE 3

Marcos: Can’t see a future for PH without US partnership

by MOMAR G. VISAYA AJPress

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is looking forward to a strengthened relationship with the United States and emphasized that this is necessary in a time of global economic and geopolitical crisis.

“It is very clear to me, in my vision for the way that the country will move forward. I cannot see the Philippines in the future without having the United States as a partner,” Marcos told NYSE vice chair and chief commercial officer John Tuttle in a Q-and-A after his speech. “Many of the strongest corporate benefactors, really, to government and to the rest of society in the Philippines were coming from the United States.”

The president said that it is “extremely necessary” to strengthen the alliance between the United States and the Philippines because this partnership “provides the stability in these highly unstable economic, political, geopolitical, diplomatic environment.”

Manny Pacquiao set for Saudi exhibition match vs ex-sparring mate

by MARK GIONGCO Inquirer.net

MANNY Pacquiao is set for another exhibition fight this time, against his former sparring mate Jaber Zayani in Saudi Arabia nextPacquiaoyear. and Zayani made it official with a contract signing last week at the Filipino boxing legend’s home in Makati City.

Earlier this month, Pacquiao said in an interview with Agence France-Presse that they were just about to begin talks for the bout.The non-sanctioned eight-round bout is targeted around mid-February 2023 at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.

“I personally negotiated with the senator together with my team and after months of talks, we finally agreed to a face off next

year. He already signed the contract so it is a go,” said Zayani in a press release on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Zayani served as one of Pacquiao’s sparmates during his training camp for his world title fight against Keith Thurman in 2019.Pacquiao retired in September of last year to focus on his bid for the Philippine presidency, just a month after he suffered an upset loss to Yordenis Ugas.

The 43-year-old Pacquiao is scheduled for his ring return in December when he faces martial arts YouTuber DK Yoo in a charity event in Seoul, South Korea.

While Yoo had already admitted he won’t beat Pacquiao, Zayani is keen on making the most out of the rare opportunity to be in the same ring as one of the greatest fighters in

u PAGE 4

Misinformation shrouds Philippine martial law era horrors

by LUCILLE SODIPE Philstar.com

MANILA — American lawyer Thomas Jones still remembers the scars of Philippine torture victims he interviewed for Amnesty International inside the country’s detention centers in 1975 during the rule of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.But Marcos, who presided over widespread abuses and corruption during his 20 years in power, denied the lawyer’s visit to the Philippines ever happened. Decades later the dictator’s claim — debunked by AFP and others — has resurfaced on

social media sites popular among Filipinos.Amnesty estimates thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands tortured and imprisoned after Marcos imposed martial law on September 21, 1972.Under legislation signed in 2013 by former president Benigno Aquino, 11,103 victims of torture, killings, enforced disappearances and other abuses have been officially recognized andIncompensated.therun-upto Wednesday’s (September 21) 50th anniversary of the start of martial law, proMarcos posts have flooded

Facebook and TikTok with false and misleading claims that cast doubt on Amnesty’s findings and downplay the abuses.

AFP has fact-checked multiple posts that carried footage of Marcos addressing U.S. media in 1982.Marcos — father of current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who has defended martial law — accused Amnesty of relying on “hearsay” for their findings. And he falsely claimed the rights group “never” visited theThecountry.clipresurfaced on TikTok in March after an anti-Marcos Senate candidate running in May 9

elections cited Amnesty for figures showing the horrors of martial law.

“Amnesty International (said) 3,257 were killed during Marcos’s time, 35,000 were tortured... 70,000 were imprisoned. It’s a matter of record,” Luke Espiritu said in a Withindebate.hours of that livestreamed event, the Marcos footage had been stitched with the Espiritu video and circulated on TikTok and Facebook.

It received more than 900,000 views, according to analysis by AFP’s Fact Check team.

One post drew more than 3,000 comments that questioned

u PAGE 4

Asia’s stability, peace ‘under threat,’ UN ideals must be upheld, says Pres. Marcos

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Inquirer.net

NEW YORK CITY — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, September 20 (Wednesday Manila time, September 21) said the hardwon peace and stability in Asia is currently “under threat” due to “increasing strategic and ideological tensions,” as such, ideals of the United Nations (UN) must be upheld.

In his world debut at the 77th

session of the United Nations General Assembly, Marcos opened his remarks with a reference to former President Carlos P. Romulo, the first Asian leader of UN, who 77 years ago called on world leaders to make the floor the “last battlefield” for survival.

He said widening geopolitical polarities and sharpening strategic competitions are transforming the international political landscape.

The UN Charter is likewise being violated around the world, he said.

U.S. President Joe Biden (right) takes part in a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday, September 22 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. During their first face-to-face meeting, the two leaders spoke about the support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the alliance between the two countries, and other opportunities such as climate action and infrastructure. Malacañang photo

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. speaks during the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 20, where he discussed topics from the country’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council to calling for an end to Asian hate in the United States. This marks Marcos’ first trip to the U.S. since becoming president with a packed itinerary that included a meeting with the Fil-Am community in New Jersey and speaking at an economic forum at the New York Stock Exchange. Malacañang photo

Marcos: Can’t see a future for PH...

The United States is the third largest trading partner of the Philippines and the second major source of foreign direct investment applications in 2021.

Marcos rang the closing bell at the NYSE after the speech and interview with Tuttle. He was accompanied by his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and their son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and some of the economic managers he brought as part of his delegation.“Weare all thrilled to be here. We are familiar with the NYSE and the bell and that most important balcony in the world. We had always watched it from afar, so to have that opportunity to be here personally has been a great opportunity and a great pleasure,” he said.

Marcos delivered a speech at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, Sept. 19, and called on investors to look into the Philippines, which offers highquality labor, a large consumer market, and a wide range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

In his speech, Marcos touted the economic advancements his administration has made, including the steps they have put in place to open up the country’s“Bouncingeconomy.back from the pandemic, the Philippine economy has seen robust growth since last year, and as returned to its path toward upper middle-income country status. achievable we believe within the next few years,” he said.Marcos mentioned that they enacted policies “to further liberalize our economy and welcome more foreign investment to our shores.”

This includes passing legislation to lower corporate income tax rates and rationalized fiscal incentives. The government has also reduced the minimum paid-up capital requirements for foreign retailers and foreign startups bringing in advanced new technology.Marcosalso announced that the Philippines now allows full foreign ownership of companies providing public services such as telecommunications, shipping, air carriers, railways, subways, airports, and toll

roads.

Community gathering

The president and his delegation arrived at the Newark Airport aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines flight on Sunday afternoon. He began his six-day working visit in New York with his first community gathering with hundreds of Filipinos and Filipino Americans at the New Jersey Performing ArtsChantsCenter.of ‘BBM’ and ‘Marcos

Pa Rin’ filled the halls of NJPAC as Marcos was introduced.

The president shared that New York plays a special role in his life and reminisced that it was here where he met his future wife.

He said he used to live in Cherry Hill, New Jersey when he was studying at Wharton. He met Liza Araneta in court back in 1986 while he was waiting for Imelda’s case while she was visiting one of their fellow lawyers.“More than 25 years din kaming hindi nakabalik dito,” heMarcosquipped.then thanked the audience for their support in the recent elections.

“My profound gratitude to our kababayans here in the United States who were among the 31 million Filipinos in the Philippines and other parts of the world in giving me a resounding mandate to lead our country and our people in the next six years,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the almost 4.5 million Filipinos in the U.S. “for the role you play and continue to play in advancing the interest of the Philippines and the Filipino people here in this part of the world.”“We have over 10 million kababayans all over the world and as your president, I understand and know full well the significant impact of the Filipino diaspora on our motherland, especially in terms of supporting our postpandemic economic recovery,” heDollarsaid. remittances have hit an all-time high of 34.88 billion dollars in 2021, representing a 5.1 percent increase from the 33.19 billion in 2020.

Halos 40 porsiyento ng remittance nung 2021 ay galing

dito sa America,” Marcs said.

“You sent this record-breaking figure even when many of you were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Revitalization of the economy

“As we continue to search for more solutions to revitalize our beloved country it is not the time to look at the past, it is now the time to look to the future, and the future looks bright,” Marcos said as he laid out his goals and targets.

He said he expects to grow by 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year and to achieve that, the government will implement tax reforms that will be responsive to the development of the digital economy and will increase revenue collection.

He and his team are also targetting a 9 percent or singledigit poverty rate by 2028 and on top of that, the attainment of upper middle-income country status by 2024.

“We have formulated our medium-term fiscal strategy to achieve measurable mediumterm macroeconomic and fiscal objectives such as 6.5 to 8 percent real GDP growth annually between 2023 and 2028,” he said.

Marcos was joined onstage by his delegation led by the First Lady Liza Marcos, their sons Rep. Sandro Marcos and Simon Marcos, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Ambassador Babe Romualdez, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo Sr., Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.., and Special Envoy to UNICEF Nikki Prieto Teodoro.Among the Cabinet secretaries present at the event were Enrique Manalo (Foreign Affairs), Manny Bonoan (Public Works and Highways), Alfredo Pascual (Trade and Industry), Christina Frasco (Tourism), Jaime Bautista (Transportation), Amenah Pangandaman (Budget and Management), Ivan John Uy (Information and Communications Technology), Susan Ople (Migrant Workers), Arsenio Balisacan (NEDA), Trixie Cruz-Angeles (Press), Maria Zenaida Amping (Presidential Management Staff), and Ben Diokno (Finance). n

Marcos, Biden meet in...

PAGE 1

was his personal emissary to the Filipino leader's inauguration last JuneMarcos,30. during the New York Stock Exchange event on Monday, said he could not see the Philippines in the future without its longtime ally, the U.S., as its partner.

Fil-Am ex-border officer sentenced...

PAGE 1

funeral in the Philippines.

She agreed to the sham marriage in exchange for $20,000 with half paid at the start of the scheme and the other half when the fake spouse obtained citizenship.

Evaristo applied for a fiancé visa for the fake spouse, he traveled to the U.S. in 2015, and the couple was “married” in San Diego.

In 2017, the couple applied for citizenship for the “spouse,” and in 2019, again lied in their interview about the sham marriage to try to obtain citizenship.

The investigation began when Evaristo improperly used her access to a federal law enforcement database to check on the immigration status of her sham husband.CBPofficers looking into the improper access knew Evaristo was dating another person and so began to unravel the sham marriage scheme. When Evaristo was interviewed in 2021, she admitted to the scheme.

Evaristo was indicted in September 2021. She pleaded guilty in May 2022.

In recommending a probationary sentence, prosecutors noted that Evaristo is the single parent of infant twins: “Evaristo has experienced significant consequences of her crime that go beyond a custodial sentence: She lost her job at CBP—a job she spent years securing and that afforded her a comfortable income—and now works a lowerwage warehouse job. These consequences along with the restricted liberty of probation reflect the seriousness of the crime and are likely to deter any future criminal conduct,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

(Inquirer.net)

"Just earlier today, we had a lunch that was hosted by the U.S.-Philippines Society. And I spoke to them and we talked perhaps more on the subject of geopolitics and explained that it is very clear to me in my vision for the way that the country will move forward that I cannot see the Philippines in the future

without having the United States as a partner," Marcos said.

"And although I was referring to the geopolitics of it and I was referring to the political situation in the region and around the world, that certainly does continue to apply in our exchanges in the economic front," he added. n

Misinformation shrouds Philippine martial...

Amnesty’s numbers and described the dictator as “a great leader destroyed by black propaganda.”

Jones said Marcos lied about the Amnesty visit and martial law abuses, and decades later Filipinos were being deceived by his son.

“People of the Philippines, they still don’t know the facts,” the 81-year-old told AFP from his home in Wisconsin.

Jones and a colleague interviewed Marcos, members of his cabinet and 107 detainees during their visit.

Marcos admitted about 50,000 people had been arrested in the first few years of martial law, while 71 detainees told them they had been tortured, Jones said.

Amnesty published their findings in 1976, with their conclusion that “torture was used freely and with extreme cruelty, often over long periods.”

The Marcos government denied torture was “widely used” and said Amnesty’s report was “based on fabrications, biased, and without factual foundations.”

‘Short memories’

Josefina Forcadilla, 66, one of the detainees mentioned in the Amnesty report, remembers being interviewed by Jones and his colleague while she was imprisoned.“Iwashesitant to talk to them at first, until they said they wanted to document what my family went through at the time,” she told AFP

Forcadilla was 17 when police raided their house in search of her elder brother in April 1973.

She said an officer boxed her ears, fondled her breasts and played Russian roulette with a gun

Manny Pacquiao set for Saudi exhibition match...

Ben Talal.

while interrogating her about his whereabouts.“Iwasinshock. I couldn’t cry. I knew then that their purpose was really to kill,” she said.

She and three other siblings were eventually arrested.

Her elder sister was assaulted and died in detention, while her brother was tortured and another sister gave birth in prison.

“My family can’t help but ask, why do Filipinos have short memories?” she said.

Amnesty visited the Philippines again in 1981 to document abuses that took place from 1976 onwards.Ina2018 statement, Amnesty said: “From 1972 to 1981, some 70,000 people were imprisoned and 34,000 were tortured; over 3,200 people were killed.”

Marcos was toppled from power in Rachel1986.

Chhoa-Howard, Amnesty researcher for Southeast Asia, defended the rights group’s estimates, saying they were “based on our own field missions and documentation during the ‘80s and cross-referenced with other research at the time.”

But she said the true scale of the abuses may never be known “given the immensity and pervasiveness of violations during that time.”

Denying atrocities Yet, the truth about what is known is itself under attack.

Filipinos worried about martial law violence being whitewashed or erased by the new Marcos administration have been digitising books, films and articles documenting the brutality.

One group is Project Gunita,

which has been scanning and posting old newspaper and magazine reports on social media to educate users influenced by pro-Marcos misinformation.

“It’s pointless to have our Google drives, it’s pointless to have this database of information if it doesn’t get to those people who need to read them,” said cofounder Sarah Gomez.

Joel Ariate, a member of the University of the Philippines’ Marcos Regime Research group, said denying Marcos atrocities “has become like a bloodsport online.”Hesaid the key to fighting misinformation about martial law was to repeat the truth “as much as the Marcoslies.”Jr., who said earlier this year he had not seen Amnesty’s figures and did not know how they were generated, last week acknowledged there had been “abuses” under martial law, “like in any war.”

But martial law had been “necessary” to defend the country against communist and Muslim insurgencies, he told a local celebrity talk show host.

Carmelo Crisanto of the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, an independent government body, said in August the real number of victims could be much higher than the official figure.

“Many people in the fringes of our society — Muslims, farmers, fisherfolk — they didn’t even hear that there was a process for filing claims,” Crisanto said.

“So the effects of the regime could have touched them but they are not recorded.” n

Asia’s stability, peace ‘under threat,’ UN ideals...

PAGE 1 PAGE 1 1

“A profound lack of trust is putting enormous strains on our multilateral system. Our very Charter is being violated around the world as we speak,” the President said in his statement at the UN high-level debate.

“In Asia, our hard-won peace and stability is under threat by increasing strategic and ideological tensions. These behoove us to uphold the ideals that led to the establishment of this parliament of nations, and to reject any attempt to deny or redefine our common understanding of these principles,” heMarcosadded. said inequalities and inequities within and among countries remain unresolved and

continue to persist, which demands “urgentAmongaction.”the injustices the President cited were the inequitable access for vaccines against COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic, as well as the “uneven” effect of climate change where “those who are least responsible suffer the most.”

Commitment to UN ideals Marcos guaranteed the Philippines’ commitment to the UN ideals, citing the country’s adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides that differences among nations should only be resolved through peaceful ways.

He also cited the 1982 Manila Declaration, which provided

the framework for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.“Byreinforcing the predictability and stability of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, we provided an example of how states should resolve their differences: through reason and through right,” he said.

“These two contributions provide useful guidance for our time. For amidst the challenging global tides, an important ballast stabilizes our common vessel. That is, our open, inclusive, and rules-based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and of justice,” he added. n

the history of the sport.

“Call it an exhibition or something but when the senator signed the deal, I told him to prepare well because I’m going to give him a real fight. He then told me, ‘you better be prepared,’” said Zayani, who signed a fiveyear multimillion promotional deal with Saudi Prince Al-Walid

“I was honest with the senator that I’m looking at this as my biggest break which I will surely maximize. I aim to create a buzz and become a household name.

Sure, the organizers are calling this an exhibition but for me, it’s a chance to exhibit my talent as a future world champion,” he added.

The 31-year-old Frenchman, who stands at 5-foot-9, is an upand-coming lightweight with a record of 18-0 with 11 knockouts including three victories over Filipinos.“That’s going to be a December Samgyup party for the senator but once he meets me inside the right, he’s going to get French toasted,” said Zayani. n

Asian Americans not a monolith, advocates urge...

Lin, a Stanford professor of medicine, who in 2018 co-founded the Center for Asian Health Research and Education with Dr. Latha Palaniappan. The two doctors currently co-direct the Center, based at Stanford, with the aim of driving better health outcomes for Asian Americans. Systemic racism impedes better data

At an Ethnic Media Services briefing Sept. 16, co-hosted by the Stanford Medicine Center for Asian Health Research and Education, Lin noted that disaggregating data was not as simple as just adding boxes to the clinic check-in sheet.

“We’re having trouble, even at Stanford. There are definitely issues, given the history of systemic racism, that leads to these concerns about self-reporting,” he said.“The capacity to disaggregate data for AAPIs within the electronic health records is there. But the political will and the leadership across health care systems is still lacking,” said Dr. Winston Wong, a scholar-in-residence at the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for HealthEpic,Equity.thepredominant electronic health records system used in the U.S. has a vast capacity to capture trillions of data bits every day, said Wong. But those who manage data collection must have the capacity to ask patients about their subethnicities in a culturally sensitive way, he said.

The critical need for disaggregated data became especially acute during the COVID-19 pandemic. News headlines screamed that the virus was primarily killing and hospitalizing Black and Latino people.Butin New York, which had the highest rates of infection early on in the pandemic, it was actually Chinese Americans who had the highest rates of hospitalizations, reported Wong.

“That was never seen as a news headline,” he said, attributing it to

a lack of data.

In Northwest Arkansas, the number one group that was getting hospitalized and dying from COVID were the Marshallese people of the Micronesian diaspora, noted Wong. Marshallese people were particularly hard-hit as they worked in poultry-packaging plants and lived in very crowded conditions. And in New Jersey, there was a high rate of hospitalizations among Bangladeshi people.

“This kind of data is only identified at this point by the activists, the community providers, the physicians and nurses who care for that community because they’re providing the culturally competent and linguistically accessible care to these populations,” said Wong, adding that it is not captured at the statewide level, and used as a tool for allocation of resources to hardhit communities.

‘Our community went underground’

Tu Quach, president of Asian Health Services, noted another fallout of COVID on the AAPI population: an uptick in hate crimes against the community.

“Our Asian American populations were simultaneously blamed for the virus and ignored when it came to services because of the racist narratives that were predominantly put out by the former administration that blamed Asians for causing the virus,” she said.“Many Asian Americans, including our patients and our own staff who were coming into work, were being attacked both physically and verbally in so many ways. So our community essentially went underground,” said“NearlyQuach.three quarters of them said they were too afraid to leave their homes. They were hiding from attacks, but also dangerously missing out on critical care, including getting COVID testing and so many other services.”

Quach also noted that fewer COVID resources were devoted

to the AAPI community, because the prevailing narrative was that it was hitting hard black and brown communities.“Ourcommunity was also impacted. But this was not highlighted in the narrative. So this community continues to suffer in silence,” said Quach.

New recruitment efforts

The lack of disaggregated data may be due to very low levels of research participation among Asian Americans, said Dr. Van Ta Park, a professor at the University of California San Francisco’s School of Nursing, in the Department of Community Health Systems.

Park is also the lead researcher of an NIH/NIA R24 grant called, “Collaborative Approach for AAPI Research and Education.” The goal of CARE is to recruit 10,000 AAPI who are interested in participating in research. CARE is available in six languages.TheCARE registry launched during the COVID pandemic and already has recruited 9,300 participants who speak Chinese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese, and Samoan through its online portal.

Thus far, the registry has referred more than 500 individuals to 27 studies, said Park.

Intake workers ask questions about sociodemographic information, health conditions and behaviors, and caregiving experiences to better match participants to research studies.

One of the areas of most concern to Park is Alzheimer’s’ research. One out of every three people in the US will be afflicted by Alzheimer’s, but AAPIs represent only 7% of participants in clinical research.CAREhas developed the “Asian Cohort on Alzheimer’s Disease,” a US Canada study to study the impact of lifestyle genetic factors on Alzheimer’s disease risk in Asian Americans and Canadians. (By Sunita Sohrabji / Ethnic Media Services)

Weeding out corruption

IN a recent survey among the country’s top business executives, corruption was identified as the biggest barrier to our economic recovery from the pandemic and the top concern that the government must address.

In a 2022 CEO survey conducted from July to August this year by the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Philippines and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), 67 percent of 119 business leaders ranked corruption as the No. 1 economic obstacle.

Editorial

Corruption outranked other pressing problems such as lower foreign and domestic investments (38 percent); political uncertainty (30 percent); uncontrolled inflation (29 percent); rising oil prices (28 percent), and lower quality of education (27 percent).These and other issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and higher inflation and fuel costs were giving Philippine business leaders sleepless nights, said Mary Jade T. Roxas-Divinagracia, PwC Philippines deals and corporate finance manager.

The pessimism was evident in 52 percent of respondents who said it will take more than two years for the country’s economy to recover from the pandemic, in contrast to projections by economic managers that recovery will happen this year.

The respondents specifically identified corruption in the handling of pandemic funds under the Duterte administration.

“In the past three years, issues such as undocumented health spending, misallocated health care funds, and procurement of outdated equipment surfaced and have not been resolved,” according to the survey briefer.

The respondents were apparently referring to the underfunded Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., linked to President Duterte’s Chinese adviser Michael Yang, which was accused of overpriced, substandard, or undelivered pandemic supplies, as well as the Department of Education’s purchase in 2021 of overpriced but outdated laptops for public school teachers worth P2.4 billion.

Pharmally cornered almost P11 billion in pandemic contracts, some of which came from then Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s dubious transfer of P42 billion to the controversial Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PSDBM). A scathing report by the Senate implicating Duque and President Duterte did not pass after the latter’s allies refused to sign the report.

There has also been no transparent accounting of the billions set aside under two Bayanihan laws (around P602 billion for Bayanihan 1 and P569 billion for Bayanihan 2) for the pandemic response, as well as the massive foreign borrowings that the Duterte administration incurred.

Not that corruption is new in the Philippines, which slid down in Transparency International’s global corruption index in 2021, ranking 117th out of 180 countries, two notches below its 2020 ranking.Thecost of corruption is mind-boggling. In 2019, Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos estimated that the country was losing P700 billion every year to corruption, making the Philippines the sixth most corrupt nation in the Asia Pacific.

This staggering amount is equal to some 20 percent of the annual government budget, and could have purchased 1.4 million housing units for the poor, provide assistance for around 7 million Filipinos, and a buffer stock of rice good for a year, Ramos said

It was thus a disappointment for many that President Marcos Jr. did not mention corruption, nor how his administration would tackle it, in his first State of the Nation Address in July. This early, the problem has reared its head anew, with the sugar importation mess leading to the resignation of the President’s chief of staff at the Department

of Agriculture and his “Little President,” Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez.

But such symbolic gesture and rhetoric are not enough. After all, Rodrigo Duterte failed miserably when he promised “not even a whiff” of corruption will happen during his watch, with his administration embroiled in the biggest corruption scandal during the pandemic. The Marcos Jr. administration would do well to listen to the sentiments expressed by business leaders, who will be the government’s partner in economic recovery. The PwC-MAP survey is a clear message that government corruption is utterly unacceptable during these adverse times when the ranks of the poor keep rising, and many businesses are struggling to get back on their feet.

The new government should demonstrate that it will brook no corruption by holding to account individuals involved in graft and other anomalies, even if they are allies. The President’s tremendous political capital must be put to good use in cleaning up the traditional corruption hotspots in the bureaucracy—the internal revenue, customs, public works, immigration, budget, and justice departments. Beyond expressing concern about the problem, the private sector must similarly do its part in curbing corruption in its ranks, with bribery and commissions for government contracts being openCorruptionsecrets. has blocked our progress as a nation for far too long. It’s time to make its eradication an urgent national undertaking. (Inquirer.net)

United Nations: An important platform for our diplomacy EyeBabe’sView

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE United Nations has been criticized in the past about its perceived failures, with critics saying that its powerful body – the Security Council – has been ineffective in maintaining peace and security and easing tensions between nations as some disputes have escalated into armed conflicts, pointing to the war in Ukraine as a recent example.Others also accuse the UN of being inefficient when it comes to achieving the goal of mitigating hunger and poverty despite the billions of dollars being spent on economic and social development programs. In fact, the relevance of the 76-year-old organization in today’s world is being questioned by some sectors who claim that it is continually going on a decline and nearing obsolescence, supposedly because of its bureaucratic

Commentary

CARLOS H. CONDE

HAS the human rights situation in the Philippines improved, as some United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC) member states want to Sincebelieve?Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president two months ago, Philippine press reports about killings in the “war on drugs” seem to have decreased. Perhaps because the evervolatile Rodrigo Duterte left office, there is less sense of urgency around “drug war” violence. Many observers now appear willing to buy the idea that perhaps Mr. Marcos is different, that he may improve

systems, coupled by its perceived inability to evolve amid the changing geopolitical landscape.Butwhile it has been less than perfect, many people still look at the United Nations in a positive light, as evidenced by the 2021 Pew Research Center survey conducted in 17 countries that showed 67 percent of respondents expressing a favorable opinion of the UN regarding its handling of many issues, including climate change. The same results are also reflected in the latest Pew Research Center survey released last month, with “a note of positivity” also seen among survey respondents (65 percent) across 19 nations regarding their view of the UN.

Interestingly, a big number of people are optimistic that “the problems facing their country can be solved by working with other countries,” with 64 percent of the respondents in the 2022 survey saying they believe “many problems can be solved by working together,” as against 31 percent who say that few problems can be solved by way of international cooperation. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic,

the ongoing war in Ukraine and other global challenges and threats, climate change emerged as the major concern, particularly among people living in advanced economies.

In fairness to the UN, it has been successful in bringing attention to issues of global importance and has promoted discussion in a peaceful manner. Take, for instance, the upcoming UN General Assembly that, obviously, continues to be an important forum for world leaders to discuss various threats and concerns that vary from the social to economic to political and environmental.

As the Pew report noted, people still see “the benefits of international cooperation for solving problems and the importance of common values for bringing nations together” despite the “many depressing stories dominating the international news cycle.”

Not surprisingly, a lot of interest is being generated regarding the participation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 77th UN General Assembly in New York, where he is set to deliver a speech on Sept. 20 which is the first day

of the high-level general debate with the theme “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.”TheUNGeneral Assembly is an important part of our diplomacy. No doubt the participation of President Marcos is an opportunity for the country to take center stage because of the high level of interest on what the President will say during his speech. As I said during my interview with CNN’s “The Source” hosted by Pinky Webb, the President will likely call attention to climate change, a top priority of his administration.TheDepartment of Energy in fact is looking at alternative sources of energy, most especially clean energy. While we are still dependent on fossil fuel, we have to start looking at the future and, on many occasions, the President has talked about clean energy sources, particularly small modular reactors that hopefully would be available to the world initially in the next year or so. The Philippines has a lot of potential energy sources including hydro, solar and wind

power, which the President is very familiar with because of the windmills in Ilocos Norte which contribute to the power supply in the province.

We are also opening up our mining sector, which is a very good development because the Philippines has an estimated 4.8 million metric tons of nickel reserves – one of the largest in the world.

Nickel is a major component in battery production and so we anticipate a strong market for nickel in the future with electric vehicles being the wave of the future.

The President’s schedule is extremely tight, with a large number of requests for meetings from state leaders including those from Latin America and the African states.

Among those finalized are the meetings with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob of Malaysia, and other state leaders that are awaiting confirmation so most likely the President will have about six to eight bilaterals.

We are still finalizing the bilateral meeting between President Bongbong Marcos

and U.S. President Joe Biden, but as we all know, the sad news about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II has changed a lot of schedules. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that this would happen, with the US being an important ally of the Philippines.

A number of American businessmen are also eager to meet President BBM, and we have also received many requests from members of the Filipino community from as far as Guam and Honolulu and across the U.S. We have instructed the consulates to coordinate and have them in one place, possibly at the Kalayaan Hall in our consulate in New York, where the President can hopefully meet them and reiterate the message of unity, which he believes is the only way we can surpass the challenges and problems that the world faces today. (Philstar. com)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

UN still needs to scrutinize the Philippines

the country’s human rights situation.Theresult is that HRC member states now appear less inclined to take a strong action on the Philippines at the 51st session that began Monday, September 19 in Geneva. This mindset runs counter to the continuing human rights calamity in the Philippines.Drug-related killings remain commonplace. Dahas, a program of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, found by looking at police and media reports that there were more drug-related killings—in which the victim had alleged links to the illicit drug trade—in July, the first month of the Marcos Jr. presidency, than in June, the last month of the Duterte administration. Altogether,

72 drug-related killings were recorded in July and August. Impunity persists. Out of the more than 6,200 “drug war” killings by police since 2016, according to their own statistics, only one case—JUST ONE— has resulted in conviction.

Authorities assert that some cases are being investigated but when only 12 officers have been charged out of thousands of cases, that’s a travesty both for the victims’ families and society at Thelarge.much-vaunted UN Joint Program that the HRC and the Philippine government began last year got off to a slow start. The government has been unhelpful or unwilling in fully carrying out the program’s mandate. It has failed to provide significant information on “drug war” cases. It has opposed the

participation of several rights groups. Not one of the six “technical working groups” has conducted strategic planning sessions and couldn’t even meet regularly. Despite the effort that the UN side put into devising a good program, Manila treated the program as a public relations tool to provide window dressing for ongoing abuses.Sofar, Mr. Marcos has not introduced measures to improve human rights in the country. Instead, he has promised to continue Duterte’s “drug war.” He has not convened a new Commission on Human Rights nor indicated he will appoint qualified, independent human rights experts who will uphold the commission’s constitutional mandate to investigate and help prosecute cases.

Other longstanding rights problems are also going unaddressed. “Red-tagging” and the country’s anti-terrorism law continue to be used to harass leftist activists and human rights defenders. The security forces continue to commit often deadly violations in their campaign against the insurgent New People’s Army.

In June, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor submitted a request to the court to resume the investigation into “drug war” killings, which it paused last November at the Philippine government’s request. The prosecutor’s request to reopen the investigation came after he concluded that the government was not taking adequate steps to ensure accountability at the domestic level. Members of

the HRC should take heed of the prosecutor’s determination, which only further underscores the need for international engagement. For those who see Mr. Marcos as offering a breath of fresh air, the ICC is an instructive example. All UN HRC member states should support a resolution at the upcoming session to ensure continued, strong scrutiny of the Philippine situation. The council needs to send a message that a new presidency is not a clean slate to commit new *abuses.**

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

ManilaTimes.net

* * * Carlos Conde is a senior Philippines researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Dateline PhiliPPines

BBM considering names for new Executive Secretary – Palace

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is on the hunt for his new Executive Secretary.Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles on Monday night, September 19 (Tuesday, Manila time, September 20) maintained that an official appointment has yet to be made on who will take over the post vacated by lawyer Victor Rodriguez."There are names being considered for now, but no appointment has been sent out yet," the Palace official said during a virtual briefing from New York City.She, however, did not drop names of the candidates whose credentials are now under review by the RodriguezPresident.

tendered his resignation as "little President" last weekend, citing his need to have more time with his family.

He, however, will continue to serve the Chief Executive as chief of staff following the revival of the Official of the Presidential Chief

of Staff (OPCOS), a matter met with some objections, particularly by Marcos' chief legal counsel, Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, who argued that some of Rodriguez's new functions overlap with those from other offices under the Executive department.

The 98-year-old former Senate leader likewise thumbed down other proposed powers of the Presidential Chief of Staff (PCS) such as the authority to sign contracts and give directives to various government agencies as this will make Rodriguez "too powerful".

Instead, duties of the PCS, although still enjoying the rank of Cabinet Secretary, were trimmed down to having "the primary function of supervising and ensuring the efficient and responsive day-to-day operational support to the Presidency to enable the President to focus on strategic national concerns."

Reports have pointed to retired Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin as the new Executive Secretary but which have neither been confirmed nor denied by the President or any other Malacañang executive. n

Irene represents Marcos Jr. in queen’s funeral

NEW YORK – Irene Marcos Araneta represented her brother President Marcos in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London, Malacañang said Malacañang said on Monday, September 19..

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Araneta was accompanied by her spouse, Gregorio María Araneta III.

“Mrs. Irene Romualdez Marcos Araneta will be the President’s special representative who will attend the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” Angeles said in a statement.

“Mrs. Marcos-Araneta and her spouse will be attending the events for the State Funeral beginning with the lying-in-state of the Queen taking place today (Sept. 19),” she added.

Queen Elizabeth, the longest-serving monarch in British history, died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96.

World leaders and prominent personalities gathered in London to pay their last respects to the queen, who reigned for 70 years. (Philstar. com)

No need to import rice until next year, says Imee Marcos

by beatriCe PinlaC Inquirer.net

MANILA – Farmers in the Philippines need not worry about the government importing rice until next year, because local supply is seen to exceed consumer demand, Senator Imee Marcos said on Tuesday, September 20.

Marcos pointed out that there are no reasonable sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances that can stand as sufficient grounds for more rice imports this“Theyear.

Department of Agriculture has no reason to call

for any more rice imports, which will only push down farmgate prices of palay. Our farmers are doing a great job producing more than ample domestic supply,” she said in a statement.

The projected 5.13 million metric tons (mmt) of local rice harvests in the third quarter of the year is expected to surpass the domestic demand of 3.7 mmt, providing a buffer stock of 1.43mmt by end-September, according to Meanwhile,Marcos.shenoted that locally grown rice is likewise seen to reach beyond the demand of 4.02 mmt, reaching up to 6.24 mmt in the fourth

quarter.This,Marcos said, will provide an additional buffer stock of 2.22 mmt, with the total reserve of rice harvests totaling to 3.65 mmt by the end of the year.

Filipino farmers have repeatedly decried the continuous importation of rice, which they said, tips the scale against locally grown rice.

Since the second year of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, rice self-sufficiency has steadily decreased from 95 percent in 2017, 86.2 percent in 2018, 79.8 percent in 2019, and 85 percent in 2020. n

DOH: Rise in COVID-19 cases can’t be linked to eased masking rules for now

by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com

MANILA — The recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases cannot be attributed to the implementation of eased face mask rules for now, the Department of Health said Tuesday, September 20.

The agency reported that the rise in coronavirus cases continues in recent days. Metro Manila is deemed “moderate risk” for COVID-19 transmission following an increase in the number of Undersecretaryinfections.Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the DOH, said the department is

still analyzing the effects of the optional masking outdoors to the trend of cases.

“We still cannot directly correlate this to the new masking rules,” Vergeire said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on September 12 signed an executive order making face masks voluntary in open and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation. It usually takes two weeks for the DOH to analyze the effects of policy changes.Thehealth official said the increase in the number of cases may be due to the increased mobility of the public. Authorities observed that mobility has risen

since mid-August, or when schools in the country reopened their doors to students after two and a half years.

“Once mobility increases, we expect that there is more interaction between and among people. So the more interactions there are, the more likely disease transmission is,” Vergeire said.

The DOH recorded 14,707 additional COVID-19 cases from September 12 to 18. The figure was 4% lower than the infections logged from a week before.

There were 727 severe and critical patients in hospitals, which accounted for 10% of the country’s total COVID-19 admissions. n

Irene Marcos Araneta signs the book of condolences for the death of Queen Elizabeth at Lancaster House in London as her husband Gregorio Araneta looks on. Philstar.com file photo

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles

ManilaTimes.net file photo

HARVEST TIME. Farmers get their chance to harvest their rice fields on a sunny morning in Poblacion II, Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija on Thursday, Sept. 22. The activity was in time for the September harvest season.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Dimples Romana, Miko Raval show how age, distance don’t count when ‘love bites’

by CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG Philstar.com

MANILA — Viral Scandal costars Dimples Romana and Miko Raval are set to reunite in one of the episodes of ABS-CBN’s digital anthology Love Bites.

The upcoming segment titled Letters for Lea will explore a kind of love that “defies age, distance and“Therespace.”are kinds of love (that) get stuck on you and just grow on you. Kumbaga merong mga kilig at pagmamahal na parang dumarating siya, ambilis-bilis lang dumaan sayo, pero it lasts. Something that has lasting effect on you,” shared Dimples during a virtual call.

The romance between Allan (Miko) and Lea (Dimples) in Letters for Lea is “a beautiful love story,” she remarked. “We have the notion that when it comes to love, you always have to be together, you always have to spend (time) together. But here comes Lea and Allan, both are telling us na pwedeng magkaroon ng pagmamahal somewhere out there, there is one person who loves“So,you.”you are actually redefining love, really finding love and defying space and distance and time, and somehow parang for the two, naka-suspend yun. Isn’t that like one of the most romantic kinds of love na parang alam mo lang na merong nagmamahal sayo somewhere out there and maybe, just maybe, if the timing is right, you’ll find one another again,” she

Theadded.premise of Letters for Lea is something that is relatable to

mature viewers. As the actress elaborated, “Marami sa mga in their 30s, 40s and even 50s who would find second wind in love, third wind in love because they felt they did not have that chance and the timing was always off. They always had to consider other things.“But again, here comes a love that tells you that love can also be loving each other unconditionally because imagine, there are no expectations. Hindi naman nila nakikita yung isa’t isa and yet they really held on to that kind of love that made them feel so alive.”

She further gushed about their characters, “For me, ang ganda lang isipin na they (Allan and Lea) were trying to reach one another… na parang decades have passed and yet they were feeling so much for each other.”

“They always wanna reach out to each other like that. They are always longing for each other,”

sheMikoadded.says of Dimples as costar: ‘Very professional and very passionate about her work.’

The Kapamilya star, who is married to non-showbiz husband of 20 years Boyet Ahmee, said that the craziest thing she did for love was to “take the leap of faith and really go with it.” Dimples and Boyet have three children — Callie, Alonzo and Elio.

She told The STAR, “Sometimes, there’s a tendency for us to overthink love. And because we have so many expectations of what it should look like, what it should feel like and what it should require of you knowing another person. But I just realized, you know, that love could be just very easy and very pure, very honest and hindi pretentious.”Shecontinued, “I just realized that siguro the craziest thing that I actually did for love was just to go 10

Megan Young, Mikael Daez okay with being childless: ‘Not a problem with us’

by DANA CRUZ Inquirer.net

MEGAN Young and Mikael Daez admit they do not mind not having kids in the future, saying they could “continue living life” even if they do not become parents.Thecouple, who have been married for two years, opened up on their thoughts about having children, via their “Megan & Mikael Podcast” released on YouTube last Monday, Sept. 19. The beauty queen admitted

she does get asked “in various ways” whether she and Daez plan to have kids, and stressed she does not mind these questions at all since she is always prepared for an “Myanswer.answer to those questions would be, if we have kids, then we have kids. If we don’t, we don’t. If I get pregnant, okay, and if not, then we just continue living life,” she said.

Young added that when the subject is brought up in conversations, people are often “curious” about her and Daez’s

point of view on the matter.

“I guess it’s not normal or it’s not like a common thing for couples to be like, ‘Yeah, we’re fine even if we don’t have kids.’ Usually, it’s like ‘Yeah we’re trying,’ or ‘Yeah we really want to have kids,’ or sometimes, ‘Maybe like in the next couple of years,'” she explained.

“But for them to actually hear, ‘Oh they might actually be okay without kids,’ it’s a bit of a shock to some people.”

Daez then weighed in on the subject, noting that the decision to have children is really up to his wife.“I say we’re going with the flow and it’s really all up to Bonez (Young). Because like you said, you are the baby carrier and I’m just here to tell them that I’m here to support,” he told Young.

Daez emphasized that despite their “go with the flow” point of view on becoming parents, the subject is still a “constant conversation” between him and Young.“Ifever there’s an oops and you get pregnant then okay great, that’s not a problem with us. But if we had a choice, then we’re kind of okay just coasting along living our life, and seeing what life throws at us,” he said.

Young and Daez were in a relationship for nine years before they tied the knot in 2020. They had two weddings that month: an intimate ceremony with their loved ones in Batangas and a bigger wedding in Subic.

The couple celebrated their second anniversary in January, admitting that they almost forgot the occasion.

Megan Young and Mikael Daez

Photo from Instagram/@meganbata

Miko says of Dimples as co-star: ‘Very professional and very passionate about her work.’ Philstar.com photo

Station Casinos plans to build 67-acre hotel-casino project in North Las Vegas

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

THE North Las Vegas Planning Commission recently approved Station Casinos’ plans to build a 67acre hotel-casino at the northwest corner of Losee Road and the 215 Beltway, it was recently reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal This project, according to the report, will be built in two phases. When completed, it will feature 600 hotel rooms, more than 75,700 square feet of casino space, and include restaurants, a movie theater, banquet facilities and other amenities.

A Station representative told the planning commission that the proposed development will provide more than 1,100 construction jobs and, at project’s completion, up to 840 permanent full-time jobs.

The company’s proposed project is scheduled to go before the commission for a first reading and a vote in October.

Station Casinos’ parent company is Red Rock Resorts, which has been a busy player in the real estate field lately.

Red Rock recently announced that a trio of casinos shuttered during the pandemic – Fiesta Hendeson, Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station – will be closed for good, torn down and the land sold.

According to Red Rock, the decision to close the three properties were due to the fact that, despite their popularity, patrons who frequented the establishments have switched over to other Station casinos.

Currently, there are no mentioned interested buyers for the land on which the three casinos sit on, which is a total of 107.5 acres.The locals-oriented casino company sold the Palms casino property for about $650 million

in Red2021.Rock Resorts, in addition to a property with its own name in Summerlin and Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, operates multiple gaming properties under the Station brand throughout Las Vegas. It also runs 10 Wildfire casinos, which includes seven properties in the Henderson area.

The company is also looking to cement on its status as the dominant operator of localsoriented casinos, with the construction of a Wildfire casino in the downtown area, specifically along the busy Fremont Street tourist destination.

A statement issued by Red Rock Resorts said that they are “excited to bring a new Wildfire casino with fresh new amenities to the local residents of downtown Las Vegas.” Wildfire Casinos are said to be typically heavy on slot machines and video poker. It also features casual and affordable dining options that cater to Las Vegas locals.Aside from the casino in the downtown area, Red Rock is also busy constructing a Durango project in Southwestern Las Vegas. The project is expected to include a 73,000-square-foot casino, sports book, a 200-room hotel, four restaurants and meeting space. That resort will sit on the intersection of Durango Drive and Interstate

Although215.it is not a dominant player in the downtown area nor does it have a presence along the Strip, Red Rock Resorts, via its many casino properties in the Las Vegas area and neighboring communities, is a huge player in the gaming arena. Its emphasis on serving Las Vegas locals may well play to its advantage, as the

area’s population continues to grow, courtesy of retirees who are moving to Nevada due to the lower cost of living and those who are moving to the area for other reasons, including employment and business opportunities.

Many Californians who have moved to Nevada are also benefitting local casino properties as they are not as affected by the changing numbers of workers in the construction arena and those who work in other casino properties.Indeed,these are busy times for Red Rock Resorts and its Station Casinos and Wildfire brands. Its goal is to double its portfolio by 2030, and the projects it is currently undertaking are just the tip of the iceberg in Red Rock Resorts’ long-term bid to widen itsWhilereach. news of a housing slowdown has dominated recently, there is still a lot of construction going on in Las Vegas, with many planned casino-resorts and other mega projects opening within the next few years. That means continued employment for many, and a bevy of permanent jobs that will be available when these projects are nearing completion or are completed. And many of those jobs are not in the gaming industry, but are in other fields which

include hospitality, conventions and sports.

If you are looking to buy property or land in Las Vegas or neighboring areas, now is the time to make that investment. You will be able to negotiate with sellers as there is more inventory available, and you will be able to look for that piece of land/property which can fit your budget, plans and dreams.

I have many decades of experience in assisting clients who are looking for their first home, second/vacation homes, investment properties or land (for future use/development). I can assist you in looking for these opportunities. Many of my clients have begun to reap the benefits of their investments, including turning their properties to rentals or Airbnb, or getting a good return on investment for the properties they bought in previous years.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman attended the Commercial Alliance Symposium sponsored by the Las Vegas Realtors association to gain more insight on real estate trends that she can share with her clientele.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s investors from the Bay Area keep buying more land in Pahrump.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (2nd from right) with her new wave of Pahrump investors from San Antonio, Texas and Guam.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

IN the United States, in a 12-month period ending in January 2022, there were 107,375 people who died from drug overdose and drug poisoning, according to the CDC. About 67 percent of the deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl, many of them in multiple color gummies/ tablets to attract children. More than 200,000 Americans have perished from fentanyl overdose since 2015. Since this dangerous substance is 100 times stronger than morphine, most victims’ ages ranged from 18-45, more than any other causes of deaths in 2020 – greater than suicide, car accidents and COVID-19. The open southern border is a major factor for entry of these killer drugs and other killers. Keeping the border open is insanity.

Cannabis babies

The use of cannabis in the United States and around the world is massively increasing, thanks to our legislators who thought people needed another recreational drug besides alcohol, etc. Do we really need more illegal drugs and more suffering and deaths? Political correctness gets votes, so they enact laws to please their constituents, never mind the detrimental effects to society.

Studies at the Washington University in St. Louis found that children exposed to cannabis while in the womb “show increased symptoms of psychopathology such as depression and anxiety in early adolescence…and elevated psychopathology symptoms during adolescence can make a young person more vulnerable to developing psychiatric illness and substance misuse.”

While the medicinal value of cannabis is real and useful, recreational marijuana is best avoided, because of the following bad side-effects: brain development issues in people; greater anxiety problems; depression; paranoia, schizophrenia; problems with memory and cognition; damage to lungs; hyperemesis (vomiting) syndrome; cardiovascular damage; diminished testosterone production; and, addiction and behavioral disorders.

Bivalent booster

The reformulated, redesigned anti-COVID-19 vaccines are aimed against Omicron and its various subvariants, the predominant viruses today. CDC recommends everyone to opt for this new “more universal” shot in the face of the predicted wave in Fall and Winter. The updated Pfizer/ BioNT booster is authorized for those 12 and older, and Moderna, for 18 and older. It is anticipated for COVID-19 to be with us in the future and an annual (if not every 6 months) anti-COVID-19 vaccination might be the norm,

like the annual flu vaccines we get. Hopefully, scientists will develop one which is a combination of the anti-COVID-19 and anti-flu vaccine: 2-in-1, one needlestick less for man, one giant step for mankind!

Blood test for cancer

A bit of good news: Scientists have designed “a blood test for cancer that looks at the methylation of cell-free DNA.”

Called the Gallieri test, it is being used in a large-scale trial to determine if this test will help in shortening (expediting) the time to diagnose cancer.

With cancer, as everybody knows, early diagnosis is vital, if a cure is to be achieved for greater survival. So far, in this early stage in the research, the test shows a high rate of false positive but a low rate of false negative. More exhaustive studies are needed on this most valuable potentially lifesaving test.

Nightshades

Nightshades (claimed to be bad for those with arthritis) include eggplant, tomato, potato, pepper, paprika, etc. Inflammation is the trigger of most, if not all diseases. Imbalance gut microbiome could cause havoc in our bodies. Proper diet is vital and accounts for most of our organic illnesses. Regular physical exercises are also very important in boosting our immune system, besides the muscles and cardiovascular system. If God wants us to be a couch potato or sedentary, He would have given us roots instead of feet.

Cardiac-oral health

More medical data confirm that oral health affects heart health. Dental carries, gingivitis, and oral infections lead to inflammation, which initiates a cascade of reactions to inflammation in various organs, including the heart. And inflammation results in irritation in the inner walls of the arteries in the body, the coronary arteries included. This leads to build-up of plaques inside these arteries which, over time, block them. If those blockages are severe, they could lead to a heart attack and stroke.

Brushing technique

A few years back, we wrote about the effective technique in oral hygiene as a response to a question from a reader. The basic idea and ultimate goal are to make sure no tooth is left unbrushed, which I term “conscious brushing.” To be comprehensive, the mind should be focused on doing a good and thorough brushing of all teeth, including the gums and the tongue (a massive sanctuary of germs). After dental flossing, gargling follows, then brushing all sides of the teeth, not missing any tooth and concentrating on this job. A final rinse with a mouthwash containing stabilized chlorine dioxide two to three times a day is my personal routine. (Warning: This is NOT the same as household Chlorine for cleaning, which is a poison;

stabilized chlorine is specially formulated as a mouthwash and is safe.)Toput things in their proper perspective, our mouth has about 20 billion germs (of 700 different strains), and bacteria reproduce every 5 hours. One day without brushing increases the germs to 100 billion. The mouth has more germs than our rectum. Disgusting but true. A public toilet seat only has about 1,200 to 3000 bacteria per square inch, actually less than germs in our mouth. You don’t have to run in fear to brush your teeth after reading this but do “conscious brushing” 3 times a day, after each and every meal. And visit the dentist twice a year. Apples and diabetes

The popular saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has some truth in it. A meta-analysis of multiple studies involving 339,383 participants showed that eating an apple may significantly lower the risk for diabetes type 2. But remember: an apple has 4 grams of dietary fiber and around 25 grams of carbohydrates and 19 of those 25 come from sugar, so when eating apple it has to be included in the calculation of total calorie intake of the individual. The sugar in apples is fructose, which is different from unhealthy refined processed sugars in sweets.Anarticle in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2017 stated “replacing glucose or sucrose with fructose in foods or beverages led to lower peak post meal blood sugar and insulin levels.” To prevent serious complications of diabetes, which involve multiple organs, including the eyes, monitoring the blood sugar (A1C) regularly per physicians’ recommendation is vital. Today, a well-treated diabetes Type 2 with all resources available enables people to have practically the same average life expectancy as that of a nondiabetic.

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

by Dana Cruz Inquirer.net pearls

Sec. Ben Diokno and Sec. Ivan Uy lead mini-conference on ‘Incredible changes of the 2020s: Helping the Filipino thrive’

ON the evening of Oct. 28 (U.S.) and morning of Oct. 29 (Philippines), Dr. Jun David, President of the UP Alumni Association in America, Mr. Bob Reyes, President of its first chapter, the UPAA in Arizona, and Dr. Lillian Aquino, President of the UPMASA Arizona Chapter are pleased to invite you to the MiniConference on the Filipino with the theme “The Incredible Changes of the 2020s. Helping the Filipino Thrive.” It is indeed very timely to pause and recognize that there has been many changes and we must navigate them well.

The most prominent, of course, is Covid. All of us, especially healthcare professionals, have had to address this pandemic that greeted us at the turn of the decade. It has killed 6.5 million people so far and reduced lifespans everywhere by two years or more. Lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine campaigns have resulted in impacts to our social, economic, and political environments.Thingslike the rise of fake news, the polarization of society, and the virtualization of a lot of processes have emerged. And there are even social impacts we all did not want like the Great Resignation, including the divide and debate about work-from-home, that has affected industries, especially small businesses. What is most regrettable is the negative impact on the quality of our children’s education.

Filipinos will still thrive, wherever we may be, as we have done in the past. But the three organizations have invited successful Filipino professionals from the Philippines and from the US to tell us what they have done in the past that can help today. Let’s be inspired by Mon Isberto, former PLDT Communications Head and Sheila Coronel, Inaugural Director of the Stabile School of Journalism of Columbia University, for the Media Track; Mon Ibrahim, former Undersecretary of the Department of Information and Computer Technology and Mariels Almeda Winhoffer, VP and Global Managing Director of IBM for the Technology Track; and Dr. Gap Legaspi, PGH Executive Director and Dr. Lou Publico, Chief, Rehabilitation Medicine of Harlem Hospital for the Healthcare Track. Moderators for each

of the tracks are: TJ Manotoc, News Anchor of ABSCBN, Carol Colborn, former Deputy Commissioner of BIR, and Dr. Jun David, President of the UP Alumni Association in America.

In addition, three new Cabinet Secretaries, Sec. Ben Diokno of the Department of Finance, Sec. Ivan Uy of the Department of Information and Communication Technology, and Sec. Fred Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry will give short messages about their overall plans and how they will help us navigate the changes.Thisvirtual conference is free of charge but donations are welcome. There is an optional raffle for a 5-night/six-day stay at any Club Wyndham Resort for a $10 ticket.

For registration, please go to upaainamerica.eventbrite. com, then choose “Incredible Changes of the 2020’s.”

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

*

* * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

Dimples Romana, Miko Raval show how...

with it without knowing where it’s gonna lead. That’s how it works.

‘Pag nagmamahal ka ng totoo, hindi mo tinitingnan kung saan ‘to papunta. I believe that love should be that way na nagmamahal ka kasi nararamdaman mo yun yung pagmamahal.”Shefurther stated that “love should be passionate, love should not feel like it is superficial. It should feel very easy (because) love always feels right.”

Dimples also recalled that “when I went for that kind of love that was honest and pure, it took me back to myself and that was the beautiful place for me.”

“Love will come to you regardless

of age (and) gender. That’s what Love Bites is all about. It’s telling you that love is universal. That it’s OK to let love come to you and it’s OK to also chase it,” she declared. Meanwhile, Miko is glad to be reunited with his onscreen partner in Viral Scandal. “Si Dimps, ‘pag nakatrabaho mo siya, first day pa lang talagang mag-o-open up ka sa kanya because the way she talks, the way… parang ilalapit niya yung sarili niya sayo in a way na hindi ka mai-intimidate,” he said of “ToDimples.work with her, to open up to her as a friend, as an actor, it helped me…we became very close.”Healso felt “very lucky and

blessed” to have done another project with Dimples after their successful pairing in Viral Scandal and he hoped to do more projects with her. He further praised his onscreen partner as “someone who’s very professional, creative and very passionate about her work.”Love Bites is directed by Kevin Alambra and Dado C. Lumibao. Mela Habijan served as the host during the virtual media conference.LoveBites is part of the Made for YouTube offerings, produced by RCD Narratives and streams every Friday at 8 p.m. on ABSCBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

RUFFA Gutierrez has clarified she does not have an exclusive contract with any network, amid speculations she transferred to ALLTV.The actress made this clarification Tuesday, Sept. 20, via a comment on her Instagram post two days earlier on Sept. 18. Gutierrez was responding to a netizen who apparently thought she had transferred networks.

“Ruffa G, I will miss you na [kasi] I heard star ka na ng new channel,” one @fabglammom told Gutierrez. (Ruffa [Gutierrez] I will miss you because I heard you are now star of the new channel.)

“I am a freelancer. No exclusive contract with any network. I am allowed to work with everyone,” GutierrezGutierrezreplied.thenshed light on her absence from the noontime show “It’s Showtime,” where she is a judge for the segment “Showtime Sexy Babe.” This she said, also last Tuesday, while replying to a netizen who was asking her why she left “It’s Showtime,” as seen on comments in her other Instagram post last Sunday.

“Miss [Ruffa] bakit po kayo lumipat sa ALLTV? ‘Di ba po sa Showtime kayo? Nakakalungkot naman po iniwan niyo ang ‘It’s Showtime,’ kayo po ang favorite kong judge sa Showtime,” the netizen said.

(Miss Ruffa, why did you transfer to ALLTV? Aren’t you on “It’s Showtime”? It is saddening that you left “It’s Showtime,” you are my favorite judge there.)

“Hindi ko iniwan ang [‘It’s

Showtime’]. I’m on vacation po,” Gutierrez explained. (I did not leave “It’s Showtime.” I’m on vacation.)

This comes after Gutierrez attended the launch of ALLTV with fellow celebrities Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez and Ciara Sotto, among others, as seen on her

Ruffa Gutierrez clarifies she can ‘work with everyone’ amid rumored transfer to ALLTV

Sec. Ben Diokno of the Department of Finance

Sec. Ivan Uy of the Department of Information and Communication Technology

Instagram page last Sept. 14. ALLTV, run by Advanced Media Broadcasting System, started airing last Sept. 13. Gonzaga, Rodriguez and Sotto are all part of the network’s artist lineup, alongside Willie Revillame, Paul Soriano and Anthony Taberna, among others.

Ruffa Gutierrez

Photo from Instagram/@iloveruffag

Heart Evangelista building dream home in Paris amid split rumors with Chiz Escudero

by deni afinidad-Bernardo Philstar.com

MANILA — Actress Heart

Evangelista revealed that she is building her dream home in Paris amid breakup rumors with husband Francis "Chiz" Escudero.InanInstagram post showing her as the cover girl of a fashion magazine, Heart shared in the caption a part of the magazine's feature story that said, "Read about how she's taking everything in – from the highs and the lows – as she makes one crucial step after another to finally build the home she had always dreamed of in Paris."

"'Fashion has a lot to do with who you are and what you're going through'," the fashion magazine quoted Heart as saying."She reveals moments of vulnerability and how her style

Belle Mariano graces Seoul International Drama Awards 2022 red carpet with K-drama greats

by Kristofer purnell Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines —

Kapamilya actress Belle Mariano was a sight to behold on the red carpet of the 17th Seoul International Drama Awards where she is one of the recipients of this year's Outstanding Asian StarMarianoaward. wore a pink gown

reminiscent of a dragonfly's wings as she walked the carpet alongside Rise Artists Studio Head Mico Del Rosario.

Also honored with the award like Mariano are China’s Wallace Chung, Japan’s Yusei Yagi, Taiwan’s Alice Ko, and Thailand’s KritMarianoAmnuaydechkorn.isthefirstFilipina to win the prize.

The five Asian artists beat out nearly 200 other artists for the award, including Mariano's "He's Into Her" co-star Donny Pangilinan.Mariano is also the first Filipina to win the award after previous wins by Gabby Concepcion, Dennis Trillo, Alden Richards, and Dingdong Dantes, the latter two having back-toback victories in 2019 and 2020. The actress also starred with

Aubrey and Troy — From awkward meetup to lasting love

by Christina alpad ManilaTimes.net

A MID stories of celebrity couples breaking up, it's refreshing and encouraging, to know husband-and-wife Troy Montero and Aubrey Miles who recently sealed their 19-yearpartnership with an intimate wedding.Ithas not been the easiest of relationships, they agree. In fact, they started awkwardly and spent a fortune (more on that later) in their first years few of being together but looking back, they confirm what they have today is worth all the hardships

During their launch as endorsers of J's Diamond, the couple detailed how a fateful TV guesting — and a nosy close friend — brought them together."Wewere both working for ABS-CBN at that time. She was on a noontime show while on that day, I was a guest for Kris Aquino's morning show. Kris and I are pretty close because we have the same manager.

"During a commercial break, she initiated a small talk and asked who I was seeing. I said none and she was like, 'Oh come on, you have a crush?' And you know Kris, she would not let it go so I ended up saying, 'I saw Aubrey Miles, she's pretty'," Montero recalled when The Manila Times asked for what pop

culture would refer to as their "meet-cute."Whatstarted during a commercial break, with only live audience as their listeners, made its way to live TV with the whole nation witnessing how Aquino called Miles while Montero waited shyly.

"Kris called Aubrey and said, 'I hear Troy Montero wants to get your number, can I give it to him?' And she — after some awkwardness — said okay. That's how it started."

After his guesting, Montero messaged Miles to apologize for the on-the-spot call and asked if he could meet her in her dressing room right then and there.

It was in this visit that Miles' noontime show "MTB" saw the potential between the two.

"Somehow the wheels started turning and they said, 'Let's get Troy guest with a dance number with Aubrey in the opening," Montero recalled.

Miles did not deny that she was flattered with the gesture. But it wasn't enough to immediately see a future with Montero.

"Oo kniilig ako kasi hindi pa ako nag-a-artista, kilala ko na siya. But I didn't want to date because I already have a kid. And then I thought, baka babaero to eh. But I was open, so we started texting, nothing serious," Miles said.Their courtship ran for almost

a year and with their flourishing careers, they rarely have to go on proper dates.

"One of us would always be busy. Oftentimes, I would go to her set, she'd run out, we sit in the car and chat for a while and that's it. Sometimes, we'd meet up just to have snack or coffee in the car. We were that for a longTheytime."even said their relationship is older than social media and that they didn't have the luxury of modern messaging back"Reallythen.we would do calls and texts. Nag-aaway kami sa tawag, 30 minutes nun, nasa overseas siya. Inabot ng P50,000 yung phone bill namin. My gosh, ang dami namin inaksayang pera sa calls!" Mile laughingly recalled.

"But in the end, it was a worthy investment," Montero saved.Today, the couple marks their 19 years of partnership and three months of marriage. After postponing their wedding due to the pandemic, Miles and Montero had a civil wedding ceremony in June.

Finally asked why it took them longer to get married, Montero poetically answered, "We took the long road— the scenic route — but we still got here and we're still together. We just did what really made us truly happy, without minding the outside forces."

Heart Evangelista

Photo from Instagram.com/@iamhearte Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero

Photo from Instagram.com/@milesaubrey

reflects her personal evolution," the magazine added, as posted in Heart'sHeartpost.hasbeen a Paris Fashion Week staple, having recently

attended Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing’s tribute show for iconic French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Pangilinan in their first film as the "DonBelle" love team in 2021's "Love is Color Blind" and will be next be seen together in "An Inconvenient Love." Other Seoul International Drama Awards 2022 winners include Kim Seonho of Netflix

hit "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" as Outstanding Korean Drama Actor; K-pop star Kang Daniel of "Rookie Cops" for Outstanding Korean Idol Actor, and Blackpink’s Jisoo of "Snowdrop" for Outstanding Korean Drama Actress."

Actress and singer Belle

Photo from Instagram/@ riseartistsstudio